A PiB-PET scan of a patient with Alzheimer’s disease on the left and an elderly person with normal memory on the right (representational image)|Klunkwe|CC BY-SA 3.0
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed and cleared a blood test developed by Fujirebio Diagnostics Inc. that can help detect Alzheimer’s disease in early stages.
The test is for people aged 55+ who are showing symptoms of the brain disorder.
It measures two proteins—pTau217 and beta-amyloid 1-42—in blood plasma. Their ratio shows the presence or absence of amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
The test could significantly reduce reliance on expensive PET scans, which can cost thousands of dollars without insurance.
It also arrives amid a growing need. FDA Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary recently said nearly 10% of Americans 65 and older currently have Alzheimer’s, and it is expected to double by 2050.